The Bible and Homosexuality
1 Timothy Chapter 1

1 Timothy 1:9-10 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Once again, there are a wide range of translations of this verse. Biblical linguists see enough differences in meaning that one needs to be very cautious when applying this passage to gay people. A few of the different translations include:

Good News Bible - It must be remembered, of course, that laws are made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for those who are not religious or spiritual, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for kidnappers, for those who lie and give false testimony or who do anything else contrary to sound doctrine.

Moffatt Bible - He must keep in mind that no law is ever made for honest people but for the lawless and the insubordinate, for the impious and the sinful, for the irreverent and the profane, for the parricides and the matricides, murders, immoral persons, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.

New Revised Standard Version - This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching.

The context of these verses is a warning against false teachers. Verse three starts discussing those who are teaching incorrect doctrine. When we see verses about same-gender sexual activities within a context correcting of false teaching, we need to be cautious when we apply the comments to anything other than false teaching.

The Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates indicates the word translated whoremongers in the King James Version may refer to male prostitutes. Prostitution was commonly involved in the worship of idols and pagan gods. William Barclay, in his commentary on 1 Timothy, indicates the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, had one thousand sacred female prostitutes. Male temple prostitutes were also involved in worship of pagan gods. There is a possibility this text is a condemnation of the worship of other gods.